Checked Against Delivery
Let me also thank Special Envoy Grundberg for his briefing and welcome the representatives of Saudi Arabia and Yemen to this meeting.
Denmark is alarmed by this most recent escalation and strongly condemns the latest Houthi attacks in Yemen and against Saudi Arabia.
We express our condolences to all those who have been killed or injured in these unlawful attacks.
These attacks constitute a dangerous escalation and risk further undermining efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Yemen.
Denmark calls on the Houthis to immediately end all attacks inside and outside Yemen, including attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
Mr. President,
Yemen has already endured more than a decade of conflict, and the only viable pathway to peace remains through a negotiated solution and an inclusive political process under UN auspices.
We reiterate our full support to the efforts of Special Envoy Grundberg to facilitate dialogue between the parties to this end.
We strongly urge the Houthis and Iran to refrain from dragging Yemen into a broader regional conflict.
We also reiterate our demand for Iran to refrain from any provocation or threat to countries in the region, including through the use of proxies. Iran must cease its support to the Houthis, which threatens not only Yemen’s stability, but the stability of the region.
Mr. President,
This recent escalation is compounding an already catastrophic humanitarian situation with more than 22 million people – half of the population – across Yemen in need of humanitarian aid. We are deeply concerned about the thousands of Yemenis forced to flee their homes, many for the second or third time.
We underscore the need for full adherence to international law and UN Security Council resolutions. All parties must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and allow for safe passage away from active combat zones.
In this vein, the Houthis must immediately and unconditionally release all UN, NGO and civil society personnel who have been arbitrarily detained. We urge consistent, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to allow humanitarian actors to reach people in need across all of Yemen. Further disruption to humanitarian efforts could have catastrophic humanitarian consequences.
Mr. President, in closing,
We once again urge the Houthis to cease their escalatory attacks, and engage constructively in the peace efforts under the UN-auspices, for the benefit of the Yemeni people.
Thank you.
